Orkin Design and Sony Show Off Roll-Up Laptop Concepts

By Jeremy Hsu Posted 10.07.2009 at 12:32 pm 13 Comments

Rolltop Computing Get ready to roll and go with this multi-touch laptop Orkin Design

Laptops keep getting thinner and lighter, but some concept laptops take portable to a new level. Orkin Design's Rolltop consists of an OLED display that can start as a rolled-up mat and deploy as a multi-touch 17-inch laptop. My beastly HP laptop just shed a tear of envy.

The Orkin laptop can also transform into a tablet PC operable with a stylus, or become a standup flat screen display. A power adapter and other features fit with the carrying canister that comes with a convenient holding strap.

Sony has also gotten in on the action with concept laptops, watches and MP3 players that take advantage of flexible OLED technology. All those went on display at CEATEC 2009 in Chiba, Japan.

This should get any ordinary laptop user excited. But people wondering if a lightweight laptop can still pack in computing power might check out PopSci's own explanation of how to beef up that small PC.

[Gizmodo via Gizmowatch]

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13 Comments

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meyaht

10/07/09 at 1:41 pm

As if it wasn't cool enough on its own, they went and made the canister look like a lightsaber.

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MaxHubert

from montreal, quebec

10/08/09 at 4:11 pm

That is amazing! When is this coming out, we need to revolutionize our education system with computers like these!

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hatleyjm2000

10/08/09 at 6:48 pm

Now if only they'll put a decent OS on it. Mac or Linux anyone?

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Kuxir

10/08/09 at 8:36 pm

First of all.. education systems????? what? this isnt really going to improve classrooms by getting expensive roll-up computers.....
Also please not a mac... that would be just murder

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Sirboss

10/09/09 at 2:23 pm

It looks more like a luxury item than a practical item. Why do we need a roll up laptop anyway? We are currently making laptops that are just a few inches thick. And sure it looks cool, but do we really need it? I wouldn't recomend it for classrooms, because kids would probably break it... But that's just my opinion.

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awesome96

10/11/09 at 10:16 pm

well the roll up form would be good for traveling. and that it takes up less room. and ya definally not in a class room, and i don't think that we do but do we need half the things we do.

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reeko

10/12/09 at 3:31 pm

Yes we have thin laptops already available but the concept that I find appealing is this one actually wraps around it’s own docking station. I can envision the canister being able to accommodate removable storage,etc. Additionally the OLED technology should allow you to customize the keyboard. You could have language specific keyboards, application hot key specific keyboards, etc.

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JPnyc

10/15/09 at 3:02 pm

Another answer to a question nobody asked.

"Learn to Live & Live to Learn"
Alexander von Humboldt

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thor0997

10/16/09 at 5:17 pm

Well this is just one of the luxury items now. It could be quite common in the future. It could incorporate more technologies in the future and become tougher and could be competitive with inflexible computers. Answere this question. If they were the same price same computeing power and same reliability, which would you buy? Remeber the future always make it better.

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big Idea

10/19/09 at 9:50 am

looks cool and I want one but it also looks like it could brake easaly.

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EricIQ-2

10/20/09 at 11:16 am

I just can't wait for the switch computer. As light and as big as a mobile phone, but flips out into a full size laptop at the press of a button.

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guythatlikestor...

10/23/09 at 11:34 am

Way too cool!